Yankees outfielder/designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who was slowed by a calf injury during spring training, has progressed to the point where he'd likely be able to return to games if spring training was still going on.

"If we were to start spring training games up tomorrow, he'd probably be ready to go," manager Aaron Boone told the YES Network on Monday.

Stanton, who has continued to prepare for the season at the club's spring training facility in Tampa (though things could change for him and other players soon), was among a group of Yankees who were hitting last week under the watchful eye of hitting coach Marcus Thames.

It was evident at that point that Stanton, who had resumed baseball activities on March 7 as he worked his way back from a calf strain, would almost certainly be ready for Opening Day now that the season has been pushed back.

Because of recent guidelines suggested by the CDC regarding social distancing and a halting of large gatherings for at least eight weeks in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, the earliest the MLB regular season will start is the second week of May.

Along with Stanton, it's fair to believe that Aaron Judge -- who was dealing with multiple injuries at the time spring training was shut down -- will also be ready to return for the delayed Opening Day.

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